One of the most important technological changes in agriculture was the transition to the modern tractor.
The transition from horses and mules to modern farm machinery for tilling the soil and harvesting the crop did not begin until the 1920s.
Tractors are big machines. They can do many different kinds of work. Normally farmers use them to pull plows and to work other farm machines. Farm tractors are designed for use in flat fields.
A tractor is a machine that pulls or pushes a tool over land. Without tractor power and purpose-built implements, it’s unlikely that anyone would look forward to work around the modern farm whether it is a small scale or lifestyle farm or a large commercial farm.
Modern farm tractors are effective and up-to-date agricultural power units. Changes have helped make them more efficient, safe, convenient, versatile and powerful.
Modern farm tractors may be divided into two general classes: the general purpose type; and the standard tread type.
The general purpose type of tractor, as its name implies, furnishes power for practically all farm work.
Not only does it perform all of the drawbar, belt and power shaft jobs, but, in addition puts speed and economy into the planting and cultivating of row crops.
New tractors can provide high levels of operator comfort, for example air-conditioning and radios in the cabin. These comfort features tend to lessen operator fatigue and therefore improve safety.
Modern farm tractors are equipped with receivers which using signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, allow precision hands-free plowing, planting and harvesting. Automated seed planters are synchronized with actual tractor speed by ground speed radar.
Modern tractors are equipped with roller protection system of ROPS, consisting mainly of a steel framework which if the operator is not thrown out, should prevent the weight fo the oveturned machine from crushing him.
Throughout the industrialized world, mechanization has become a cornerstone of production agriculture and the tractor is the modern symbol of farm mechanization.
About farm tractors
